The effect of communication channels on dishonest behavior

Conrads, Julian; Berger, Sebastian (2015). The effect of communication channels on dishonest behavior. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 58, pp. 88-93. Elsevier 10.1016/j.socec.2015.06.006

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The present research investigates the effects of various communication channels on dishonest behavior. We rely on a simple truth-telling experiment (i.e., a repeated coin-flip) and let subjects report their outcome through communication channels that differ in distance and anonymity (face-to-face, in-lab telephone, in-lab web-form, and home web-form). We find dishonest behavior across all communication channels, with important treatment differences. Reporting of extreme outcomes that maximize payoff increases in distance and anonymity. To the contrary, partial lying decreases in distance and anonymity. Furthermore, we find gender to moderate the effects and women tend to drive these results. The findings have important implications for the design of real-world communication structures that are relevant when honest reporting is particularly relevant, for example in insurance claims, income reports for tax purposes, or applicant screenings in labor markets.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Department of Business Management > Institute of Organization and Human Resource Management > Organisation

UniBE Contributor:

Berger, Sebastian

Subjects:

600 Technology > 650 Management & public relations
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 330 Economics

ISSN:

2214-8043

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Claudia Probst

Date Deposited:

08 Aug 2017 10:16

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:02

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.socec.2015.06.006

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.94966

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/94966

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